Vello Auto Extension Tube Set for Nikon Review

Many years ago I bought a Nikon 55mm macro lens. This was an older, manual focus lens. It came with an older extension tube that did not communicate with the camera, meaning that any lens that was attached to it lost all communication with the camera, meaning it also became a manual focus lens. Worse yet, newer Nikon AF-S lenses that do not have an aperture ring weren’t usable at any aperture besides completely stopped down.

I really liked the idea of having an extension tube for more regular use, so I was always interested in trying extension tubes that would communicate with my camera and that I could use with all of my lenses. When I came across this set, they seemed like exactly what I was looking for. Will they find a permanent home in my camera bag or will they have a place in storage gathering dust next to my old extension tube?

NIKON D800 + 85mm f/1.4 @ 85mm, ISO 200, 1/200, f/5.6

1) Product Specifications

Includes – 3 tubes: 12mm, 20mm, 36mm – 2 caps

Details – Shortens minimum focusing distance of lens for macro photography – Extension tubes of 12mm, 20mm, and 36mm lengths can be used individually or in any combination of the three for greater magnification – Full autofocus and exposure compatibility – Lightweight design with metal mounts – Alignment markers make placement on lenses and cameras easy – Fits Nikon DSLR cameras and all F-mount lenses

2) Field Use

Let me start out by saying this: using these extension tubes is as easy as putting a lens on your camera. And really, that’s all there is to it. Simply put whichever tube you’d like to use on your camera body, attach your lens as normal and you’re ready to shoot. All of your lens functions (aperture control and autofocus) are available, as well as in-camera metering.

NIKON D800 + 85mm f/1.4 @ 85mm, ISO 200, 1/200, f/5.6

So, what does an extension tube do and why would you want to use one? An extension tube is essentially a hollow tube that moves the lens farther from the camera’s sensor, thus changing the focusing distance of the lens and allowing for closer focusing than without the extension tube. Theoretically, extension tubes can turn any lens into a macro lens with 1:1 reproduction capabilities.

There are a few benefits to using an extension tube in place of a macro lens. First, it’s a lot cheaper than a macro lens. Second, it’s a lot smaller and lighter than a macro lens. Third, you can use it with any lens you currently own without a decrease in optical performance (like you might experience with a close up filter).

NIKON D800 + 85mm f/1.4 @ 85mm, ISO 200, 1/200, f/5.6

As for the actual use of these tubes, my experience was overall positive. I found that my lenses tended to hunt a bit more than usual. I also found that shooting at f/1.4 with an extension tube doesn’t produce the best results. The depth of field is just too shallow, so plan on shooting at higher apertures. I was very happy with the different focusing distances I was able to achieve with varying combinations of tubes.

NIKON D800 + 85mm f/1.4 @ 85mm, ISO 200, 1/200, f/5.6

I was initially a little concerned when I put the tube/lens combo on my camera body. It doesn’t fit perfectly tight like just a lens does, so there’s a bit of play between the tube and the body. It’s not enough to cause a light leak and fortunately doesn’t affect focus, but does make the whole setup feel a little cheap. Also, the rear cap does not fit tightly and falls off. I even switched out the supplied cap with a Nikon cap and had the same results. I’m assuming this has something to do with why the tubes don’t fit tightly to the camera body.

3) Samples

The following image samples were taken to demonstrate the varying degrees of minimum focusing distance made possible by using extension tubes. All images are uncropped. I also left any vignetting that occurred. All were shot at f/4 with the Nikon 85mm f/1.4G AF-S lens.

4) Summary

If you have a need for close up photos but don’t need the optical precision of a dedicated macro lens, a set of extension tubes is hard to beat. They’re small, inexpensive, easy to use and are flexible in how you use them. They can be used in any combination with any lens, giving a huge variety of applications. This set now has a permanent home in my camera bag.

5) Pricing and Where to Buy

The Vello Auto Extension Tube Set for Nikon is priced at $79.95 as of 6/21/2014 and is available at B&H Photo Video. They also make sets for Canon and Sony.

Vello Auto Extension Tube Set for Nikon

Features

Build Quality

Handling

Value

Size and Weight

Packaging and Manual

Photography Life Overall Rating

4.7

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About John Bosley

John Bosley is a wedding and portrait photographer in San Francisco who loves creating authentic, emotional images with his clients. He has a soft spot for functional antiques. You might see him writing with a fountain pen from his collection or shooting with one of his many film cameras. You can view his work on his website or see what he’s been up to lately on Instagram.

Reader Interactions

Comments

1) Craig

June 21, 2014 at 2:30 am

They look very similar in quality to the Xit brand I recently picked up from Amazon for $50. Metal mounts and plastic housing. Still trying to get the hang of them.

Your review came just in time, as I was just about to order one of those. kenko extension tubes seems pretty costly compared to vello, 199 vs 79. Is it really worth to go for the Kenko? Can i get a similar quality product?

I had a set of Vello extension tubes and they worked fine until they didn’t. With the knowledge that you need more extension as your focal length increases, I had the whole set of three attached to my 70-300 lens. Everything worked fine until I tried to take them off. The 36mm tube wouldn’t let go of my lens. Later, at home, I fiddled with it for about half an hour before I was able to get it off. Some sort of blade, extending from the tube, was bent. Well, that was now garbage. Later, I discovered that something in my lens was broken as well. I sent it to Nikon, with no explanation of course, and they fixed it for free. See, all you atheists? There is a God! :-)

Since then, I gave the remaining Vello tubes to my sister (D3000 and lighter lenses) and bought a set of Kenko tubes for myself. No problems so far.

That sounds scary, Patrick. As always, you get what you pay for, which means spending more money on a comparable product might mean the difference between something that lasts you a lifetime and something that eventually breaks.

I can imagine having a very weighty lens attached to all three extension tubes would greatly stress them and, as you experienced, lead to something bending/breaking. At least Nikon took care of you!!!

I purchased a set of Kenko extension tubes about 5 years ago and found a couple of additional things that might be helpful.

As John says the depth of field is very shallow: I find this makes hand held focusing, even with AF, hit and miss at wide apertures. You might find setting your AF mode to continuous helps

I almost invariably use manual focussing now, if I am hand holding I tend to use a cheap LED ringflash to allow use of aperures of f8 and above (this does need manual exposure and some trial and error with the flash intensity). For wider apertures I use a tripod.

If I am using a prime lens with extension tubes, I forget the focus ring and focus solely by moving the camera forward and back.

If I am using a zoom with extension tubes (usually 70-200) then the zoom ring allows some adjustment of focus. Helpful if I am using a tripod and don’t want to be constantly moving its position.

I have been using a set of Nikon extension tubes for years with a prime manual focus lenses, primarily the 105mm. Results are great.

Extension tubes are handy for occasional use. I would not want to use them every day. Three tubes gives seven combinations of extension. Each has a minimal focus range. With the 105mm lens the focusing ring is almost useless. Swapping seven combinations of extension is very inconvenient.

I bought the same one for my Nikon D3100 and tried using with 50 mm 1.8G and 18-55 mm. But it did not work on either of the lenses. Like you mentioned I have a 85 mm 1.8G which i will try and see. Any idea whether Nikon D3100 is not suited with these tubes?

I have a D3100 that doesn’t work with the tubes as well. The tubes work fine on my D90, but on my D3100 they wont rotate fully into position and click. By looking at the 12mm tube, I was able to see that there is a spring loaded lever in the camera opposite of the lens release button that reaches the end of its travel and prevents the extension tube from rotating fully.

Hi John, I just got the Vello extension sets for my Nikon D5200 with 18-105mm lens. My lens hunt a lot when I use with the extension tube(s), its not easy to focus, often its was impossible and very frustrating. My questions are 1) should i use it with manual focus mode only? 2)I shoot with A, S, macro settings on my camera, should I use other mode instead? 3) So far, I can only get it focus with full zoom (105mm) of my lens, is it how it works with extension set?

Hi SW: I have a set of Kenko extension tubes and I have found through trial and error that the only approach that works for me is to use live view, magnify the image significantly and then manually focus the lens. The depth of field is so small when using tubes, you have to be very intentional on what you want to have in focus and then spend the time necessary to ensure that element of your photo is perfectly in focus.

I have also found getting the exposure right can take a few tries. As a result, I set the ISO to 100 (no auto), set the aperture of the lens to its sharpest point, (F8 in many cases) and then dial in the necessary shutter speed to get the exposure correct. You can then use the histogram to change the speed if necessary.

A last point. I have tried using the tubes with the 35mm, 50mm and 85mm prime lenses. The largest magnification was with the 50mm however the lens was still very close to the subject. The 85 didn’t provide quite the same magnification due to its larger minimum focusing distance but when in focus the end of the lens was a few inches away from the subject making the lighting a lot more consistent etc.

I bought a set of Neewer tubes for my D3100 and the fit is tight and comm. is good. Autofocus can be a bit hit or miss so i get it close with the zoom and by moving in and out a little. Then AF dials it in.

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